Package for sliced bread



Feb. 7, 1933. o. B. ANDREWS PACKAGE FOR SLICED BREAD Filed m. 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i//// ilww/ 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Old/113. 1911496105" ATTORNEYS 'Feb 7, 1933- o. B. ANDREWS PACKAGE FOR SLICED BREAD Filed Oct. 15

Patented Feb. 7, 1933 mic:

reams edit SLICED artisan ii fiiitiiiii filed Octbbet 1951. serial Nb. 568,893;

Th s 'pplieati l n e e ,A Pi m H over my codending application Serial No. 3 5 3 M y5, ;ai dmy we i Serial No. 538,450, filed May I application,

Ari. objection 7 often raised against bread bands now onthe I'harketis that in order to release thewblaiid fromthe slicedbread to obtain a few slices ofbread, it. is necessa'ry to l practically remove therwaz ied seald wrapper tram the entire sliced loath, It is evident that the wax .wrappei' serves a very useful purpose in keepingthe bread, clean andpreventing th e moisture and freshness fromes caping from the.v bread; "and a this ma per should notlbe disturbed anymore than necessary as the slices areremovedh It has also been difficult to) lace the seali s-W pp r 1 befi fe kie br d y. means' of automaticwrapping' machines. when l f, is Q n together by bands n wt-g ns erally in use, due to the obstruction which eband ir sh sfi e n element' i t e machine. In the Hayssen wrapping machine and other well known wrapping machines, for example; there is an arm which slides undertlie loaf of bread during the wrapping process. Bands now in use often sag out of contact with the bottom of the loaf and then often become entangled with the operating arm of the wrapping machine; The result isthat the band is torn and the. machine. must becstopped and. the loaf removed before the wrapping operation can again 49 proceed.

package fora loaf of slicedsbread which is disturbing or exposing the remaining slices r. n object of my invention is. to proyide a to the air, andwhichcaii thereafter be easily and quickly repacked and closed to protect and keep fresh the remaining slices of bread.

Another object of myinvention is to provide a bread band whichtightlyhi gsthe bottom of the loaf and tightlyconforms to the loaf contour, which band is adjustable to tightly fit the loafafter slices have been removed, which holds the slices in perfect loaf fOrm andinclOse contact one with the other, whichinnqway interferes with the moving elements of the wrapping machine, a-ndyhich can be easily and economically madcjflq inexpensive materials and quickly andefiectively applied to the sliced loaves by the baker. a.

Other objects Of: this invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds, I

Although the novel, features which are be: lieved to be. characteristic of this invention Will berpartic ularly pointed out in theclaims appended liereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner inwhichit may be carried out may be better understood by referring to the following descripti on in which certainspecific disclosures are made for purpose ofez rplanation.

Fig.1 is a perspective view of my complete package for sliced bread, one end of the wrapperbeing open to more clearly show the bread bandunderneat-h; V 1

.Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the breadband as it appears from the top when wrapped around a loaf of bread; a

Fig; 3 is a perspective view. showing my bread b'andcas it appears from the bottom when Wrapped around a loaf of bread;

Fig.4 is a side view of the bread band as it appears wrapped around aloaf of bread;

Fig.5 is a face View of my bread band as it appears whenextended; and a Fig. 6 is a fragmentary face view of a bread band of somewhat modified construction, a

Likereference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

I have shown in the drawings a loaf of sliced bread composed of slices 6 in alignment. My bread band 10 adapted to surround the slices is composed of a strip of fiber or paper board material having a plurality of slots 11 at one end thereof. The slots extend from one edge to substantially the center of the band, and form tongues 12 therebetween. These tongues may be ta .ered at their ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The other end of the band is provided with a hook portion 13 which is adapted to interlockingly engage with any one of the tongues 12 at the other end of the band when the band is wrapped around the sliced load. To permit further adjustability after some of the slices have been removed from the leaf, I provide additional tongues 14 separated by slots or cuts 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The slots 15 may be spaced apart a greater distance than the slots 11, if so desired.

In packaging the sliced loaf, the edge of the loaf is placed adjacent to a master score line 16 and the left end portion of the band, as shown in Fig. 5, is raised and placed against the vertical. face of the slice. Score lines 17, spaced approximately of an inch apart, are provided, which permit the hook end portion of the band to extend around and lie flat against the upper edge of the end slice. Due to variance in moisture content and other reasons, it is well known that loaves of bread differ in thickness, in spite of the fact that they may contain substantially the same weight of raw dough. The closely spaced score lines 17 accommodate my band to loaves of various thicknesses. V

The other end of my band is also provided with a series of score lines 18 which extend substantially from the last of the tongues 14 to the approximate inidsection of the band. The closely spaced score lines 18 permit the band to fit snugly over the end of the sliced loaf regardless of the length and thickness of r the leaf, or the number of slices which have been removed.

Loaves of bread sold by commercial bakers are generally wrapped with a waxed or paraffin wrapper applied by an automatic wrapping machine. Substantially all of the wrapping machines in general use are provided with an arm 40 having an edge 41 which slides along the sides or oottom of the loaf during the wrapping operation. Bread bands heretofore used all have a tendency to separate or sag away from the sides of the loaf after the band has been applied. When this occurs, the edge 4-1 of the operating arm 40 often slips etween the bottom or side of the load and the bread band, with the result that the band is torn or misadjusted and the slices are thrown out of alignment or actually injured. The bread band which I disclose in this application positively prevents such an occurrence, since the band is so made that the bottom portion thereof, along which the operating blade 40 moves, is so constructed that it tightly presses or bugs against the bottom of the loaf so that the blade edge 41 of the operating arm will not pass between the band and the loaf.

It is seen that when my bread band is wrapped around the loaf and the hook portion 13 interlocked with one of the tongues 12, that a line of increased pull or stress 19 is developed in the band whose position is determined by and which flows from the point of load contact between the hook portion 13 and the tongue 12. When the slots 11 extend substantially to the center line of the band and the hook 13 is properly adjusted in interlocking engagement with a tongue 12, this line of increased stress would be found substantially along the longitudinal center of the band, as indicated at 19 in Figure 5. This line of increased stre s tends to force all parts of the band into close contact with the leaf unless interfered with by other parts of the band.

I provide an arcuate cut 20 in the band which in width extends from the side edge of the band to substantially the line of increased stress 19. Longitudinally arcuate portion 20 extends substantially across the entire length of the loaf bottom. The line of increased stress 19 appears to force the arcuate edge 20 into close contact with the bottom of the loaf. But whatever the theory may be, with a band thus cut, it is a proven fact that the arcuate cutout portion 20 of such a band hugs against the underside of the loaf with the greatest tenacity, and to such an extent that the underside of the loaf is actually slightly concaved by the pressure of the band thereagainst, as indicated in Figure 4.

I have also found that the opposite side edge 22 of the band may be caused to tightly hug the bottom of the loaf by providing a longitudinally extending crimp therein extending longitudinally along the side edge. Whether this crimp actually shortens the side edge 22 of the band and therefore causes the side edge to seat tightly against the loaf, is not definitely known, but it has been demonstrated that the edge 22 does sit close against the leaf when a longitudinal crimp 23 is provided. My bread band as thus constructed seats so tightly against the bottom of the ldxf that any possib lity of the edge 41 of the operating arm becoming entangled with the bread band is entirely removed. My bread band as thus constructed, is economically adapted for automatic wrapping machine operation.

I have shown in Figure 6 a possible further modification in wh ch the bottom portion 27 of the bread band has arcuatc cutouts 28 and 29 on both sides thereof. This type of bread band will also adhere tightly to the bottom served in a only.

of the leaf overcoming the diificulty encountered during the machine wrapping operation.

My sliced bread package iscom'pleted by placing the sliced loaf having the bread band surrounding the same in a waxed wrapper 30 which may be made generally of tubular form. The end flaps 31 of the wrapper are sealed tightly over each end of the loaf. \Vhen one or more slices of bread are to be removed, the flaps 31 of the wrapper are separated so as to expose only one end of the leaf. The master score line 16, against which the edge of the leaf seats, defines the location of the hook portion 13 in such a way that the hook portion rests substantially on the end shoulder of the leaf, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. WVith the hook portion thus positioned, it is easy for the housewife to disengage the same from the tongue 12 by merely opening one end of the wrapper only, as shown in Fig. 1. The remaining portion of the wrapper is thus not disturbed and the remaining slices of the loaf are pretresh, clean and sanitary condi tion.

My band is so constructed as to permit adjustinent to hold closely together a few slices which may remain in the package. To shorten the band so that it can be interlocked around a few slices, I provide a second hook portion 24 formed by cutting a notch 25 in the edge of the band as clearly shown in Figure 5 By tear ng oil the hook portion 13 along the line 26, the second hook portion 2 1 may be used to engage tongues 12 or 1 1, thus greatly shortening the band so that it will firmly and tightly hold together a few slices It is understood that my band can be made of a number of diiierent lengths to accommodate the particular loaves made by bakers.

The master score line 16 not only operates to deline the position of the hook portion 13 on the shoulder of the loaf, but serves as a mark to show the baker Where one end of his loaf should be placed. Banding and wrapping of the loaf is thus greatly facilitated.

It is understood that my adjustable band is applicable to the packaging of other bakery products, such as rolls, cakes, and cookies, and I do not limit the application of my band to sliced bread alone.

hile certain novel featu res of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and chan es may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

hat is claimed is:

' assembled form, said oand having adjustable interlocking means at each end thereof, said interlocking means being arranged to deliver an increased line of stress longitudinally along said band, said band having cutout portions along the sides w iere the band has tendency to sag away from the loaf, said cutout portions extending from the free edge of the band to the vicinity of said line of increased stress.

2. A band for sliced bread adapted to surround the slices to maintain the same in loaf assembled form, said band having adjustable interlocking means at each end thereof, said band having cutout portions along the sides at points where the band has a tendency to sag away from the loaf.

S. A band for sliced bread adapted to sur round the slices to maintain the same in loaf assembled form, said band having adjustable interlocking means at each end thereof, said band having cutout portions along the sides at points where the band has a tendency to sag away from the leaf, said cutout por tions extending from the free edge of the band approximately to the center line thereof.

4; A band for sliced bread adapted to encircle the slices to maintain the same in loaf assembled form, said band having a loaf supporting portion intermediate the ends thereof, means for securing the ends together and means formed with said 1 at supporting portion adapted to force the edges of the portion tightly against the loat when the band is applied to the loaf.

5. A band for sliced bread adapted to oncircle the slices to maintain the same in leaf assembled form, said band having a loaf supporting portion intermediate the ends thereof, means for securing the ends together, said band having means on one side of the leaf supporting portion adapted to force that side of the band to seat tightly against the leaf, when the ban d is applied to the leaf.

6. A band for sliced bread adapted to encircle the slices to maintain the same in loaf assembled form, said band having a loaf supporting portion intermediate the ends thereof, means for securing the ends together, said band having means adjacent one edge of the loaf supporting portion adapted to force that edge tightly against the leaf, when the band is applied to the loaf.

7. A band for sliced bread adapted to encircle the slices to maintain the same in loaf form, said band having a loaf supporting portion intermediate the ends thereof, means for securing the ends together, and a crimp formed adjacent one edge of the leaf support ing portion and adapted to force that edge tightly against the leaf, when the band is applied to the loaf.

8. A band for sliced bread adapted to encircle the slices to maintain the same in loaf form, said band having a loaf supporting por lit lid

tion intermediate the ends thereof, means for securing the ends together, and a cutout portion in one side of the loaf supporting portion adapted to force that side tightly against the loaf, when the band is applied to the loaf.

9. A band for sliced bread adapted to encircle the slices to maintain the same in loaf form, said band having a loaf supporting portion intermediate the ends thereof, means for securing the ends together, a crimp formed adjacent one edge of the loaf supporting portion and a cutout portion in the other side of the loaf supporting portion, said crimp and cutout being adapted to force the edges of the loaf supporting portion tightly against the loaf, when the band is applied to the loaf.

10. A band for sliced bread adapted to encircle the slices to maintain the same in loaf form, comprising a strip of flexible paper board, having a plurality of spaced slots at one end thereof and forming tongues therebetween, a hook portion at the other end of the band adapted to adjustably engage said tongues, said strip including a loaf supporting portion intermediate the ends of the band, means formed with said loaf supporting portion adapted to force the edges of the portion tightly against the loaf when the band is applied to the loaf and a master score line. defining one end of the loaf supporting portion, said score line being positioned with respect to the end of the band having the hook portion formed thereon, that the hook will extend a short distance beyond the top edge of the loaf when the band is applied to the slices to permit removal of the slices by opening one end of the package only.

11. A band for sliced bread adapted to encircle the slices to maintain the same in loaf form, comprising a strip of flexible paper board having a plurality of spaced slots at one end thereof and forming tongues therebetween, a hook portion at the other end of the band adapted to adjustably engage said tongues, said strip including a longitudinally adjustable loaf supporting portion defined by a plurality of score lines, intermediate the ends of the band and transverse thereof, means on one side of the loaf supporting portion adapted to force that side of the band to seat tightly against the loaf, when the band is applied to the loaf and means to locate the hook at one end of the loaf when the band is placed around the loaf, comprising a master score line near the hook end of the band and spaced therefrom so that a predetermined portion of the band, between the master score line and the locking means formed on that end of the band, extends a short distance beyond the top edge of an end slice, so as to permit removal of the slices by opening one end of the package only.

12. A band for sliced bread adapted to surmy hand.

OLIVER B. ANDREWS. 

